Thoughts and prayers to the Lake family. When will the domestic violence end and when will the women realize, once they've assaulted you, that you should not ever get in a vehicle by yourself. It is another horrendous murder of an innocent woman, who did nothing to deserve this. If Smith is responsible, he is nothing but a weak coward. I don't understand any of it, every time this happens, it is usually premeditated and this sounds like it was. Smith should get the maximum sentence, if he is responsible for this crime and it sure sound like it from the information that is on here. A little boy is now without his mom, through another senseless act of domestic violence.

Police are now investigating Cortney Lake's disappearance as a homicide and police say they've identified more than one person of interest.

Cortney Lake homicide truck decalThis is an example of the camouflage deer head decal sticker on the black GMC pickup truck police are looking for in connection with Cortney Lake's June 7 disappearance. (RNC)

Lake, 24, was last seen on June 7 just before 8 p.m., walking away from her home on Wellington Street in Mount Pearl.

"The RNC's Major Crime Unit is now investigating the disappearance of Cortney Lake as a murder investigation," Const. Geoff Higdon told reporters Friday morning.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is currently at the home of Philip Steven Smith, an ex-boyfriend of Cortney Lake.

The 24-year-old woman has been missing since June 7.

Cortney Lake's family, friends hold vigils of hope for her returnOfficers converged at the home on Alice Drive in the east end of St. John's Tuesday evening and have been there ever since.

Documents obtained by CBC News indicate the two-unit property is owned by Philip Smith and his father Melvin Smith.

Lake missing sign policeRNC officers have been securing this home on Alice Drive since Tuesday evening. (Cec Haire/CBC)

Police obtained a warrant to search the home late Wednesday afternoon. However they will not confirm it is in connection with Lake's disappearance.

A tow truck removed a black pick-up from the driveway around 4 p.m.

Smith, 25, has not been charged in connection with the disappearance of Lake. He is in custody today facing 11 charges, including breaching a court order to stay away from Lake's mother, Lisa Lake.

Smith is due to appear in court July 4 for a bail hearing.

Friends of Lake say the two had been in a relationship earlier this year, but she had obtained a peace bond to keep him from having contact with her.

Court documents obtained by CBC News indicate Smith is charged with driving while disqualified in Mount Pearl on June 7 as well as breaching an order from Feb. 23, 2017 to keep the peace towards Lisa Lake, Cortney Lake's mother.

Video surveillance footage from a nearby home shows Cortney Lake walking away from her mother's home on Wellington Crescent in Mount Pearl at 7:57 p.m. on June 7.

Police say that is the last time Lake, the mother of a 6-year-old son, was seen before she stopped using her phone and bank account.

A probation order also dated June 7 ordered Smith to stay away from Cortney Lake and Lisa Lake.

Her family has been pleading for her safe return and any information about her whereabouts ever since.

After two days scouring an abandoned farm in Bellevue, police and searchers did not find Cortney Lake or any evidence relating to her disappearance.

Five search and rescue teams with 122 people fanned out into the fields of Smallwood Farm, looking for any clues about the 24-year-old mother's suspected homicide.

In the end, the search turned up nothing.

"I know a lot of the province are looking for answers and waiting for answers on this," said Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Sgt. Paul Didham. "We are too, so if anybody has any more information out there that can assist us on this file, please give us a call."

Lake's aunt, Glenda Power, said the family was waiting, "stomach in knots," for the search to conclude.

In the waning daylight hours, Didham told reporters they had covered off the entire area, believed to be around 100 acres in total.

If anything turned up before the end of the day, searchers would be back on Sunday, he said. But that doesn't appear to be the case.Search teams not giving up yet

Search co-ordinator Harry Blackmore said if the RNC need his men and women again, they'll be back ? but the impending winter may hamper future search efforts.

"If they call, we go," he said. "But if we're out here looking for evidence on the ground, and the snow has covered it, it's a waste of time for us to try to do it."

The crews spent about five days planning the search of the farm property, which included fields, forests and buildings.

"This is methodical, the way these searches are done," Didham said. "[These searchers] are highly trained. They're experienced. They're the best in the field at what they're doing.

"Every step that they take and every piece of earth that they move is done methodically. It's done piece by piece, which is a reason why it's taken two days to do this area."

The search was the result of new information obtained by police, but the RNC has not divulged what the tip was.

The farm was last used in 2014, but now sits empty atop a vista of Bellevue beach.

Didham praised the people who helped search Friday and Saturday.

"It's a lot of people. It's a lot of commitment, and we really appreciate it and I'm sure the family appreciates it as well."

An ex-boyfriend of Cortney Lake was in court the same day she disappeared, where he admitted to assaulting her less than two months earlier.

According to court documents, 25-year-old Philip Steven Smith pleaded guilty to a number of offences on June 7.One of those was an April 15 assault against Lake. Smith was convicted and received a suspended sentence for that assault.

He was also convicted of breaching a recognizance that prohibited him from contacting Cortney Lake or her mother, Lisa Lake. That offence occurred two days before his June 7 court appearance. Smith was sentenced to two days time served.

Smith also pleaded guilty to knowingly publishing, distributing, transmitting, selling or making available an intimate image, knowing that the person depicted did not give their consent. The victim was not identified in court documents. That incident happened on May 13. Smith received a suspended sentence.

He also pleaded guilty to driving-related offences.An array of other charges were withdrawn.

Smith has been in custody since then, after his arrest for breaching conditions that he was not to enter a place where alcohol is served.

Smith is also accused of committing more crimes on the same day he appeared in court, June 7.

He is charged with driving while disqualified in Mount Pearl, as well as breaching an order to keep the peace towards Cortney Lake's mother.